Privacy concerns over new Disney theme park payment bracelets

Skift Take

Rep Ed Markey is the author of Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and his questions on Disney’s new pass aimed at children are valid ones, if only to understand if Disney has properly thought this through and has the protections in place.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has privacy concerns about the MyMagic+ bands that Disney plans to introduce, and he has sent a letter to Disney CEO Robert Iger asking for clarification on how the data Disney collects will be used.

The MyMagic+ bracelets will hold credit card information and attraction preferences.. will keep track of itineraries, alert guests when their favorite rides are ready, without standing in line, and allow them to pay for merchandise without their wallets. They will also serve as admission ticket.

But Markey says the bracelets “could potentially have a harmful impact on our children” and he has raised questions about how the privacy of millions of guests will be protected.

Disney spokesperson: Disney’s privacy policies and practices are fully transparent and guests can choose whether or not to participate in MyMagic+. In addition, guests control whether their personal information is used for promotional purposes and no data collected is ever used to market to children